Friday, May 6, 2011

The Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2009: Political Gimmick, and Diversion.

Or, the so-called Bahati Bill.

Well, as I was sleeping, on this self enforced hiatus, the wheels of parliament were moving.

Now, the anti-Homosexuality Bill is at present being discussed in the parliament of Uganda. Just today, as I write. Yes, today, Friday the 6th of May 2011. Committee hearings are reportedly going ahead.

Now, remember that this is the lame duck session of parliament. And, remember that it is supposed to end soon, on 11 May 2011.

And, that on 12 May is the coronation of the King. Uh, do not think that am using my words without real care.

Why is the Anti-Homosexuality Bill being discussed today in parliament? And as a matter of urgency? Pure and simple. DIVERSION.

Less than a week ago, the opposition parties started a 'walk-to-work' peaceful protest. The government responded with over whelming violence. Currently, as I write, the major opposition leader is in neighbouring Kenya, for medical attention for injuries he received during one of his 4 arrests. They sprayed tear gas and pepper direct into his face, after breaking down his car windows. And, this was in full view of the press.

The next day, riots paralysed the country. It was after the video of that arrest was shown on TV. Ugandans, the citizens of the country were appalled. They came out on strike. And, the government responded with overwhelming violence again. So bad that the spectre of Idi Amin Dada, famous dictator and life president of Uganda was raised.

So, the country is in a ferment. With the coronation to happen in just a few days time. So, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill is beind discussed... and ready to be passed.

So, it is a DIVERSION. The government needs a heady diversion for the country. For the outraged citizens of Uganda.

So, and this is very important, what is the government trying to do?

In actual fact, that diversion is not going to work. Because the citizens of Uganda are simply more concerned about the rising prices of food, and the deteriorating human rights situation. Their homophobia is a reflex which the government wants to use. But, it is not likely to work.

Oh, I am gay. I am Ugandan. I know what am talking about.

But, the international community is going to be appalled. The US allies are going to be astonished. And, there are going to be calls for this bill to be shelved....

Hey, so, what should you do?

People, I am a gay man, who is Ugandan. I can be killed because of being gay in Uganda. But, I can also be killed because of the general abuse of human rights in the country.

I REQUEST, AND BEG OF YOU, OUR ALLIES, NOT TO BE FOOLED.

That is very important.

If you want to condemn the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, please CONDEMN in the strongest terms possible, the general state of Human rights in Uganda.

Oh, the Bill will be passed in parliament. Have no doubt about that.

But, remember that this is time for the GAY MOVEMENT around the world to make COMMON CAUSE with the average citizen of Uganda to decry the abuse of human rights of ALL UGANDANS.

Do not separate the two issues. Mention both in the same sentence, in the same breath.

Tell this to your leaders in the community, to your leaders in your country. To your leaders in your parliament, and to your leaders nationally and internationaly.

LGBTI rights are HUMAN Rights. They are not divisible. They are not above others, they are not distinct from the others.

Make common cause in demanding the cessation of abuse of rights of Ugandans, including LGBTI ugandans, by the Government of Uganda.

Let the message go out, simple, clear, unambiguous.

LGBTI rights are human rights. And, we are concerned about the rights of ALL Ugandans, including LGBTI Ugandans.

That is the message. That is the statement. That is what we need to say.

And, yes, go ahead and talk. Tell everyone. Because, again, we cannot fight this in Uganda. The diversion will occur if you are outraged, and forget that not only kuchus in Uganda are at risk. Talk, make the bold and angry statements. Make them about Ugandans in general. And also Ugandan kuchus.

Hi GUg, I am sharing your blog post on Facebook and Twitter. I have also forwarded it to my local Member of Parliament in the hopes that he will share it with our Prime Minister. Stay strong. Your voice is important and it is being heard.

I reported your statement on KPFA Radio here in the San Francisco Bay Area last night, after a report on the bill's nearness to passage. Will send archive soon. May we also publish it online, in the San Francisco Bay View, National Black Newspaper?

Heroic statement, considering your own harrowing circumstances, but I honestly think that this is not only the right thing to do but also one of te best things you could do for gay rights. I think that gay rights will win new supporters internationally, if it rises to the unique occasion created by the collision of this bill and Uganda's uprising for food and fuel prices.

In Canada you are in our thoughts....The world as a whole we must fight against this We hold our heads high day to day somehow convincing ourselves that we are a civilized society,its time to take the blinders off,just because its not happening in our back yard isn’t a good enough reason to be blind to it.ITS HAPPENING and as long as we as a whole society look the other way it will only get worse,so what if it was your mother your brother your child would that somehow make it more real,Open your eyes,open your heart

I am sick of all you Euro-Americans trying to push homosexually and other sexual deviant acts in Africa. Homosexually was never apart of African culture. Why would a culture that prides itself on having mutilple wives and a large family,take part in homosexually. I don't give a damn about those homosexuals in Uganda. If they grew up there they know the rules and should abide by said rules. We do not need another Johannesburg in east Africa. Stop trying to push your Euro-American ideology on African people. If homosexually is allowed in Africa it would further the destruction of Africa. We as Afrikan people in Amerikkka stand firm with the Uganda government and will fight this imposing Euro-American sexual deviant culture to the fullest exent.

Thank you for the info. Wish u all the luck and strenght.I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE IT...People, this is not a bout traditions or old-fashioned values... This is about HUMANITY...Any gay person, IS A PERSON, deserves the right to exist as nature made him/her.I'm not from either Europe or USA and I can marry a man too... All over the World people realise the only thing that matters is LOVE no matter between who...HOPE, FOR EVERYONE'S GOOD THIS LAW ISN'T PASSED ON...Argentina is with you people... u'll make it...

I Believe that the UK is behind you. Saying that Homosexuality was never part of African culture is rediculous.Its like saying that democracy was never part of North African culture, the world changes!! This isnt about American and Europeans pushing their own liberal agendas. Its about Africans wanting to express their love freely for members of their own sex.

I will be discussing this issue on my own blog tommorow I would be delighted if some of you would read and discuss it. http://tanzaniannews.wordpress.com/.

Thanks Gug for your insights into the social and political turmoil in Uganda. Your theory of ‘distraction’ certainly rings true. Corrupt regimes the world over are adept in these techniques. (Maybe politicians arbitrarily read ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’ nowadays?)

http://www.avaaz.org/en/ are presently running a petition about the Anti-homosexuality bill in Uganda and I hope that other readers of your blog might add their name to it.

Lastly, I just wanted remark on the ‘anonymous’ comment left (above) from the white supremacist of Dutch ancestry (an old-school Afrikan). He’s lucky that Nelson Mandella didn’t repatriate him to his extremely liberal homeland where he might have been obliged to work in one of Holland’s many gay bars to earn a living.

Aside from this pathetic bill, it's interesting that its author, David Bahati, gained his masters degree at University of Wales - sheep population 12 million, human population 3 million. Oh yes, I am suggesting ulterior motives...

Get the hell out if/when push comes to shove. Live to fight another day. Abandon the old and stupid. A country that condemns you to death isn't worth living in. Uganda will eventually return to sanity, God willing.

...and now Museveni is showing his true self... here he is spraying pink liquid on demonstrators and preventing the Opposition leader from leaving Kenya's airport to retyurn to Uganda in time for the ...er..coronation.

What's happening to Ugandan people is awful, specially when politicians say that homosexuals are all over the place raping children and spreading AIDS, none of those things has anything to do with homosexuality.I am proud to be a gay Argentinian, here we are equal, I can even marry a man if I choose to, we can adopt children and have the same rights everyone has.

My hopes are in Uganda, but let's face it, people in there are too ignorant to raise their own opinion, because of poverty, so they have no access to the real information, just the words those hating leaders have to say... They are the real ignorants...

At least I'm sure the international community will stop this bill for them, but there's a very long way to go from here...

In the above blogs I sense a lot of heat but hardly do I see any ray of light. The Bahati Bill has been deliberately misrepresented for the convenience of those sympathetic to homosexuality. But let me ask, for the sake of being enlightened: why should someone who is not sick desire to have sex in someone else's anus?

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